A person familiar with the decision says former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue will rule Tuesday afternoon on the latest round of player appeals in the NFL's bounty probe, and that any potential punishment will be delayed by a week.

Hearings in the NFL bounty probe of the Saints have resumed with witness appearances by former Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress, Saints assistant head coach Joe Vitt and linebacker Jonathan Vilma.

Tagliabue, however, found that the players' conduct was detrimental to the league. He says they participated in a performance pool that rewarded key plays - including hard tackles - that could justify fines.

"Unlike Saints' broad organizational misconduct, player appeals involve sharply focused issues of alleged individual player misconduct in several different aspects. My affirmation of Commissioner Goodell's findings could certainly justify the issuance of fines," Tagliabue said, according to Greg Aiello, a spokesman for the NFL.

But the former commissioner said Tuesday that "this entire case has been contaminated by the coaches and others in the Saints' organization."

The NFL said it respects Tagliabue's decision, which the organization said "underscores the due process afforded players in NFL disciplinary matters."

"This matter has now been reviewed by Commissioner Goodell, two CBA grievance arbitrators, the CBA Appeals Panel, and Mr. Tagliabue as Commissioner Goodell’s designated appeals officer.

"The decisions have made clear that the Saints operated a bounty program in violation of league rules for three years, that the program endangered player safety, and that the commissioner has the authority under the CBA to impose discipline for those actions as conduct detrimental to the league.

"Strong action was taken in this matter to protect player safety and ensure that bounties would be eliminated from football," the NFL said in a statement.

Saints' quarterback Drew Brees congratulated the players on having their suspensions vacated. He said on Twitter that "Unfortunately, there are some things that can never be taken back."